Child Abuse Prevention Month — Part 3: CCCAC provides health services

Monday

Apr 15, 2013 at 8:00 AM

There are a few smaller, less heard about programs that Camden County Child Advocacy Council perform, but they matter to so many in the community. Over the years many, many children have gone to the school nurse with toothaches and other tooth pain.

Rhonda Wilkening, Special to the Lake Sun

There are a few smaller, less heard about programs that Camden County Child Advocacy Council perform, but they matter to so many in the community. Over the years many, many children have gone to the school nurse with toothaches and other tooth pain.

When Child Advocacy Council recognized that a dental program needed to be initiated, they contacted a local dentist and reached an agreement to have emergency children's dental work done. Child Advocacy Council believes that if a child is experiencing dental pain it is extremely difficult for them to concentrate on their school work. It may take as long as three months to get an appointment with a Medicaid dentist. Child Advocacy Council can usually get a hurting child into the dentist within a day or two at the most.

The CCCAC had one case where a high school student was failing his classes and was very self-conscious of his blackened front teeth. In addition, he was in considerable pain. This young man's father had lost his job and his mother was very sick. The dentist's diagnosis was dire – four veneers, several fillings, a root canal, and a major cleaning. When the young man's dental work was completed, his high school counselor called Child Advocacy Council and said he smiles all the time, has many new friends, and his grades have improved to a B+ average. The dental program is designed to help eliminate tooth pain and fix temporary problems until their dentist of choice can make permanent fixes.

The program is for children's emergency dental work only and only upon the recommendation of a school nurse or school counselor.

Child Advocacy Council has been providing special grants for a number of years. Recently, the CCCAC set up a special request grant for disadvantaged children to attend camp during the summer. Recommendations for specific children to attend a camp come from school counselors, teachers or other concerned persons. There are other miscellaneous grants that Child Advocacy Council can provide when working with teachers, counselors, and other county organizations and programs. There was a fourth grader who was having trouble with his eyes and the child had an exam and found out that glasses would be needed but the family could not financially afford them. After receiving a call from his school counselor Child Advocacy Council was able to get him into another optometrist and purchase him the eye glasses he would need to help him in the classroom and day to day life.

To treat head lice, Child Advocacy Council provides non-toxic shampoo treatment kits to families with limited resources. These kits are given to school nurses to have on hand and disburse when a family is diagnosed so that the children can be treated and returned to the classroom the next day. There are times when a child doesn't have the correct clothing for a certain season or may have grown out of their size clothing and Child Advocacy Council is called by the school nurse or counselor. If the Child Advocacy Thrift Store doesn't have the clothing in the store in their size, then a purchase can be done elsewhere to get the child clothed and taken care of. The program Coats for Kids helps in getting children coats. Coats are donated from individuals throughout the community, from local dry cleaners who have coats that were never picked up after cleaning, or from a coat drive held by area churches or businesses. Without these donations of coats it would be hard to continue this program and provide warmth for children of the county.

Child Advocacy Council has implemented a new program this year, called Education & Training and will work with local communities in the county on educating the public on sexual abuse, suicide and substance abuse and addictions. The first educational program will be on sexual abuse. This is a free workshop for any responsible adult who cares about the welfare of children such as parents, youth-serving staff, and volunteers advocating for children. Learn how to recognize, react and respond to child sexual abuse and increase your awareness to prevent it. The Stewards of Children program will be held on Saturday, May 4 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Camdenton United Methodist Church located at 340 US 54 in Camdenton. Snacks and drinks will be provided by Child Advocacy Council. To register for this program please contact Marissa Gunther with Missouri KidsFirst at 573-632-4600 or email at marissa@missourikidsfirst.org by May 1, 2013. More information on other educational forums will be announced in the near future. The Child Advocacy Council can be reached at 573-346-0003 and the Thrift Store is located at 77 Dawson Road in Camdenton.

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